Thermostatic-valve mechanism



Jan. 26 ,1926. 1,570,714

C. STICKLE THERMOSTATIC VALVE MECHANISM Filed May 27. 1924 INVENTOR. ('01.: 577cm E.

' ATTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 26, l

UNITED STATES 4 1,570,114 PATENT orncs.

O menu, 0] INDIANAPOLIS, IIDIANA, ASSIGNOB '10 BTIOZLI OILL'I'Y consumer INDIAHDOIJS, nmmna, A OORFORATIOH.

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Application me m :1, 1924. Serial 10.11.,167.

' like parts.

The object of this invention is to improve the construction and operation of thermostatic valves and particularly those adapted for use in connection with radiators-for au-.

tomatically controlling the same, and wherein a dia hragm is used.

One eature of the invention consists m the particular construction of the diaphragm in box-like form with the two thm walls, the top and bottom, of the diaphragmbeing s aced away from each other, substantial y equally for the ent1re diameter of said walls, so as to make a boxlike construction uishedfrom diaphragms formed of two lsh-shaped disks with their margins bearing. against each other.

Another feature of the invention consists in the construction of the diaphragm with a peripherally-reinforcing and protecting band surrounding the margins of the top and bottom walls of the diaphragm, and for uniting them together strongly.

Another feature of the invention consists in extending the peripherally-reinforcin band of the diaphra m above the top wal thereof so as to gui e and hold a separate superimposed protective and centering disk. Such a construction of the diaphragm affords a seat thereupon for said disk.

Another feature of the invention consists in combining with the diaphragm a separate reinforcing disk on the underside of the diaphragm and mounted in connection with the valve. With this construction it is observed that the diaphragm is (protected peripherally and on the top an on the bottom, that is, there are means for protecting the diaphragm extending all about the diaphragm, as will be hereafter explained.

Still another feature of the invention consists in a spring construction for causing the rebound of the diaphra after actuation,

' the spring being prefera 1y a four-arm leaf There is also a ca :pring and engaging a sloping shoulder in e valve casin whereb the valve will be always centere during t e operation of the device. Also the upper rotecting disk has a central pin slidab e in t e valve casing for maintaining it always centrally, the" diaphra erl cente e full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompan 'ng drawmgs and the following description and claims:

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the valve construction. Fig. 2 is a central yertical section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, with the valve open and the parts incorwhereby and valve are always prop- -responding position. Fig. 3 is a reproduction of a portion of Fi actuated and the valve 0 osed. Fi 4 is an enlarged reproduction of the right-hand o rt1on oft e diaphragm in Fig. 2, parts mg broken away. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the spring;

There is s own in the drawings a valve casmg consistin of a body ortion connecte with a ra iator througl a pipe 11 and a source of heated fluid, such as steam, hot air and the like, through a ipe 12, as is common in constructions of is sort. '13 is a port leading from the interior chamber 14 of the valve casin to the pipe 12, and the supply of heated uid, such as steam .or hot a1r, 1s controlled by a tapering valve 15. 16 for the casing that screws mto the b0 y 10 thereof. This cap has a central downwardly extending sleeve 17 for receiving a pin 18 secured on the upper protecting disk 19, as and for the purpose hereafter explained. The valve is controlled, that is, closed and opened by a thermostatic construction of the diaphragm type, as herein shown. The diaph chamber 20 is partially filled with alcohol 21 or the like, as is old in this art.

The diaphragm consists of a thin top wall 22 and bottom wall 23 made of very thin copper sheets and with their margins u turne to form annular rims 24, as shown. T ese two cup-shaped members of the diaphragm are associated so that one telescopes in the other, and the rims 24 space the top and bottom walls 22 and 23 quite a dis- 2 with the parts tance a art relatively speaking and for substantially the same distance apart throughout the'dianieter of the device, as

seen in the drawings. In this respect the diaphragm construction is materially different from the usual diaphragm in mechanism of this kind. When said members are thus united, they are slipped in a band 25 of relatively thick strong metal and so as to fit snugly therein and cause the band to surround the same, as-shown. The vertical width" of the band equals the vertical.

width of the united thin metal walls 22 and 23, and preferably said band 25 should extend above the upper wall 22, as shown in Fig. 2, fora short distance for the purpose hereinafter explained. The members of the diaphragm are secured together and hermetically sealed by solder 26, as more clearly ap ears in the enlarged view in Fig. 4. A ho e 27 is bored in the device for the introduction of the alcohol 20 and then it is filled with solder. I

- The foregoing construction makes a novel and greatl improved diaphragm, in which the top and bottom walls 22 and 23 normally bow inward, as shown in Fig. 2, so as to increase the movement when expanded by the vapor develo ed within the diaphragm when the liquid is sated.

The top and bottom walls of the diaphragm are protected by the disks 19 and 28, respectively, which are made of relatively thick metal, and the diameter of which is practically equal to that of the diaphragm so that each covers the corresponding wall of the diaphragm almost completely, and each of them has a convex side which is located ad'acent the diaphragm wall, as shown in ig. 2. The upper disk 19 fits in a depression of the diaphragm caused by the upward extension of the metal band 25, as explained heretofore, and the pin 18 fits in the center of this disk 19 and has a washer 29 loosely placed around the pin between the disk 19 and the sleeve 17 of the casing. The pin 18 centers the disk 19 and helps 1t center the diaphragm.

' Centrally positioned in the disk 28 below the diaphragm, there'is a pin 30 extending upwardly from the valve 15 and secured to the valve. A leaf spring 31 is mounted on said pin 30, lying upon the to of the valve 15, and having four radia ly projecting arms adapted to rest upon the inclined shoulder 32 of the valve casing, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. A washer 33 is mounted upon the pin'30 between the disk 28 and the spring 31. The spring is of suflicient tension to normally hold the diaphragm and associated parts in their upper position and the valve 15 in its open position, as seen in Fig. 2. When the heat 1s sufficient to create vapor in the dia hragm and cause it to swell, it will be force downward against the resistance of the spring 31 until the valve closes, as shown in Fig. 3. The inclined shoulder 32 causes the spring 31 always to be centered during the movements of the valve and thus center the valve. and associated parts.

In operation, when the heat of the steam or air coming through the. pi e 12 into the valve chamber is suflicient to mat the alcohol in the diaphragm and cause the diaphragm to expand vertically, it will lower the Valve 15 so as to'reduce or entirely close the inlet. \Vhen the temperature of the diaphragm is reduced, the spring 31 will elevate the valve so as to open the port and also return the diaphragm to its normal or contracted condition, as shown in Fig. 2.

It will be seen that the diaphragm is box-shaped, that is, the width at its margin is substantially as great as in the central part thereof, so as to increase its capacity over that of an oval diaphragm. Also it is formed of two cup-shaped members made of flexible resilient metal with their rims overlapping and secured to each other. The rigid metal band 25 surrounds the diaphragm members and is secured to them by solder so as to completely rotect their periphery. The disks 19 and 28 protect the upper and lower sides of the diaphragm at all times. especially when expanded, so that there is no danger of injuring the diaphragm or destroying tie walls thereof regardless of the pressure. -The disks are convex on their inner faces so that at all times they will engage the central portion of the diaphragm. The metal band, by reason of its upward extension above the upper wall of the diaphragm, provides a guideway or seat for the disk 19.

The valve and all parts are constantl centered by reason of the inclined shoul er on which the spring 31 rests and because of the pin 18 operating wholly in the cap of the valve case. This holds the diaphragm centered over the valve during its operation. While the walls of the diaphragm have been referred to as top and bottom walls, it must be understood that the construction will 0 erate in any position besides that shown 1n the drawings, as it could be reversed or the dia hragm vertically disposed instead of horlzontally, although the position shown in the drawings is the usual position to be used in connection with radiators.

One object of making the top and bottom of the diaphragm normally concave and the adjacent faces of the disks correspondingly convex is to aid in preventing distortion. of the diaphragm because of the expansion of the vapor within the diaphragm when it is heated. This is one of the difiiculties with some types of mechanisms. of this kind. This expansion creates one pound of pressure for every two degrees of variation in the temperature between the alcohol within the diaphra 1 and the fluid outside the diaphragm and the additional pressure outside the diaphragm, which makes it so great that in'some forms of such valve constructions the valve is distorted and permanently injured.

The invention claimed is:

1. A thermostatic valve construction including a fluid containing diaphragm formed of two similar cup-shaped members reversed and telescoped one within the other, a rigid band surrounding the rims of said diaphragm members, solder for securing said band and diaphragm members together and closing the joints between them, and a valve adapted to be actuated by the diaphragm.

2. A thermostatic valve construction including a fluid-containing diaphra m with its top and bottom formed of fiexlble and resilient metal with inwardly-extending overlapping rims, a rigid band surrounding said rims of the dia hragm, meansfor securing the band an diaphragm members together, rigid disks adapted to engage and substantially cover the to and bottom of the diaphra m so that it Will be entirely surrounded and protected, a valve connected with one of said disks, whereby the valve will be actuated by the diaphragm, and a s ring tending to open the valve and return ing 1t, and a spring associated with the valve and resting on the sloping surface of said shoulder whereby itwill center the valve and cause the opening movement of thevalve and return movement of the diaphragm, said spring being a leaf spring.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature.

COLE STIGKLE. 

